People in New Zealand -- the West Pacific -- think that water is "really cold" and requires a…read morewetsuit when it is somewhere in the mid 70s F -- but for me -- that's the perfect temperature. Over here in the East Pacific, we have MUCH chillier water. I brought my own snorkel gear, found a nice family who were not leaving any time soon and deposited my stuff near the non-swimming grandfather to watch, though, being NZ, I had little to worry about. Then - I hopped in the water and swam off to circumnavigate Goat Island, solo and without (gasp!) a PFD or lifeguard. I saw heaps of rays and even some reef sharks. The current between the island and the shore is a bit pushy, so I recommend checking the currents and swimming anticlockwise on an ebbing tide. Total swim was about 2200 meters, and very doable for a strong swimmer. If you're not a strong swimmer - bring a SUP or a kayak and have fun!

One of my favourite daytrips out of the city is a visit to Goat Island, in the small town of Leigh…read more Goat Island offers plenty of fine attractions to keep you entertained for the day, and if the weather plays along, then you can have a great day out. We normally pack the cricket kit, the petanque balls, and our snorkeling gear, plus all the normal beach day stuff. The Goat Island area offers good grass areas, an excellent golden beach and if you're not too scared of cold water, great snorkeling. Now others like to scuba, but I love to snorkel, and the fish offer a display of nature at her best. Blue, yellow or silver, they're all gorgeous, and seeing the big predators is worth freezing your bum off.

I'd been in Auckland for precisely two weeks when my friends insisted one hot hungover Sunday that…read morethey were going to drive me to Tawharanui beach for a day of sunbathing. Sit in a car for over an hour? On a boiling hot day? With a hangover? I still can't believe they managed to talk me into it...But I'm oh so glad they did. Tawharanui is without a doubt my favourite out of Auckland day trip. The beach is just gorgeous with perfect white sand, big crashing waves and lots of caves at the side you can explore. It literally makes the inner city beaches pale in comparison. Stop in Matakana for ice-cream or a meal on the way there or back. Load up a cool box with beer and sit and take in the amazing view. Tip: it gets really packed on sunny days so head there early to secure a good spot. Also, not drinking the night before will help to uphold your enthusiasm for the journey.

If I had to pick a favourite day trip out of Auckland there's a high chance that Tawharanui would…read morebe it. It has the most beautiful beach, large enough for everyone to spread out over busy summer weekends but small enough to still feel intimate and easy enough to find friends who've had the same idea as you! You can walk out past the first bay and there is a huge stretch of beach - more popular with the surfers as the break is bigger on this side. If sunbathing and lazing isn't your thing, there are plenty of walks and wildlife in the regional park, and you can even camp here (something I've never done but is on my bucket list). Looking forward to plenty of day trips next summer already!

Ti Point and Ti Point wharf are a perfect place to take the family and spend the day. The wharf is…read moresmall, but gets busy with fisherman. It's great for fishing with the kids; you can usually pull in a sprat or two with a hand line over the side. If you walk along the coast from the wharf there are some beautiful old trees to set up under for the day. They are great for the kids to climb and some have rope swings or picnic tables. If the tide is out there is a little sandy bay protected by rocks perfect for swimming. There is also a walkign track that awinds aroudn the coast, where rocks can be accessed for heavier duty fishing. Ti Point is a little difficult to get to; you turn off from Leigh road down a winding metal road. Parking is also a little sparse. But once you're there it's a great little place to explore.

Baddleys is a teeny tiny little beach at the start of the Tawharanui Pennisula. It's very tidal and…read moreat high tide is a popular place to put the boat in. At low tide it nearly completely empties of water, so best to check the tides before you go. It's not the greatest swimming beach ever but good for the little-uns; it's usually pretty calm and there are plenty of big old trees to shade under. I also find it quite peaceful down there, other than the handful of residents that live behind the beach, I've never found it to be jam packed with visitors. It's great of you want to have a private picnic etc. it has a nice secluded feel.

One of the lesser known bays in the Matakana region, Campbell's is a secluded wee spot perfect for…read morethe kids. It's very tidal; at low tide nearly the whole bay empties of water leaving behind a load of mud to frolic in and plenty of crabs to stalk. At high tide it's knee deep for miles, and the water is usually calm; so again good for the little ones. Once you've dragged them from the water there's a great playground to clamber about on and a line of water front trees to picnic under. Campbell's is not just for the tiny members of the family, there's also a good cricket pitch for bat-down or a large area for soccer or touch. Down the estuary end is also a good place to put the kayaks in. At high tide you can paddle quite far up the river for an adventure in the mangroves

Omaha Beach is the poster boy for east coast beaches. The sand is white, the water is clear and the…read morewaves are mellow. The beach spreads along the coast for a fair distance and in summer, most of it is packed. Lifeguards patrol in the summer months meaning it's the perfect spot for the family to park up. Just back from the beach is a big grassy area perfect for picnics if you want to avoid getting the sand in your sandwiches! Recent developments at Omaha have also seen some shops pop up right at the beach. This adds some serious convenience. Hot coffees or cold ice-creams are at the ready for after your beach day. If you're in for a bit of an adventure head up towards the groynes at the northern end of the beach. These fascinating rock structures have been put in place to stop the natural elements eating away at the beautiful beach and to encourage sediment to be deposited on the beach. (I studied these groynes for a whole term at high school and that is the only information I remember about them). Worth having a gander at for sure though!

Located around an hours drive from Auckland you will arrive at this beautiful and peaceful bay…read more Discovered in the 1800's by a ship maker from the UK, which the bay was then aptly named after. Just this past weekend, I went for a family outing with my husband and the children and whilst out in the area, it was decided our packed picnic would be glorious down at the bay with the sun out in full happiness. This is one of the best picks you can take for the family. There is a playground for the little ones right above the beach, and a bit of grass to lay about and have food or relax. I even saw a father with his little ones playing a game of soccer, which was right behind the coffee caravan! Yes for all those caffeine addicts, I was very happy to find that there was a coffee cart here dishing up some delicious beverages. Not only do you have the benefits of the facilities of the bay but the true treasure is the beautiful deep bay, where you can swim out to a floating platform, if your a keen water enthusiast perhaps bring your paddle board or waka down for a go. People of all ages appreciate the rock pools at low tide, as you can walk out amongst the rocks and peer into pools of seaweed, starfish and crabs- just wonderful stuff for the little people who find it a thrill! Places like Mathesons, make me truly appreciate our city and how much beauty she beholds.

I have the best memories of my first camping holiday with my family as it was my first time camping…read moreas a new mother of a little infant. The calm peace and tranquility that I experienced at this holiday park will stay with me for life. My powered waterfront tent site was pitched perfectly a few steps from the water's edge on the beautiful Whangateau harbor. Allowing our days to be spent, at leisure taking swims in the bay, and watching time slip away. The region is spoilt with amazing places to visit- drive from here to either Goat Island Marine reserve or any of the stunning beaches and bays of the coast. The park offers a few different options too with accommodation, you can choose with the powered sites, the onsite caravans or cabins. The bathrooms, kitchen and BBQ area are all situated in one large block, at opposite sides of each other and closely in zone with accommodation. The shower's cost only a 50 cent coin in the machine which lasts a good few minutes. We didn't need to use the laundry for our short stay; however I admired the cosiness of the dining and TV/games room. I liked that the field adjacent had lots of space for the little ones to run about and of course the close water play kept us all happy!